CVE-2014-6350 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 and 11 allows remote attackers to gain privileges via a crafted web site, aka "Internet Explorer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-6349.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2022
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 and 11 contained a critical elevation of privilege vulnerability that enabled remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated system privileges through specially crafted web content. This vulnerability specifically affected the browser's handling of memory management and object manipulation within the JavaScript engine, creating an exploitable condition that bypassed standard security boundaries. The flaw existed in how Internet Explorer processed certain JavaScript objects and memory allocations, allowing attackers to manipulate heap memory structures and execute malicious code with the privileges of the currently logged-in user. This vulnerability represented a significant security risk as it could be exploited through web-based attacks without requiring any user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The attack vector leveraged memory corruption techniques that aligned with common exploit development patterns documented in cybersecurity literature and exploit frameworks. The vulnerability was particularly concerning because it affected widely deployed browser versions and could be exploited across different Windows operating system versions where these Internet Explorer versions were installed. The flaw demonstrated a failure in the browser's memory safety mechanisms and highlighted the complexity of securing modern web browsers that must handle complex scripting languages and memory management operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involved exploiting a heap-based memory corruption issue within Internet Explorer's JavaScript engine, specifically targeting the way objects were allocated and managed in memory. Attackers could craft malicious web pages that would trigger buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions when the browser processed certain JavaScript constructs. The exploitation required precise control over memory layout and object references to successfully execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as heap-based buffer overflow, which occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of allocated heap memory. The attack could potentially be chained with other exploits or used as a stepping stone for further compromise, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios. The vulnerability's impact extended beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential information disclosure and system stability compromise, as the memory corruption could be leveraged to extract sensitive data or cause system crashes. Security researchers identified that the flaw was related to improper validation of object references and memory allocation patterns within the browser's rendering engine.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-6350 was substantial for organizations relying on Internet Explorer 10 and 11, as it provided attackers with a method to bypass user access controls and execute code with system-level privileges. This vulnerability could be exploited in phishing campaigns or drive-by download scenarios where users visiting malicious websites would automatically be compromised without any user interaction or warning. The exploit required minimal user engagement beyond visiting a compromised website, making it particularly effective for mass deployment attacks. Organizations with legacy systems running these Internet Explorer versions faced significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability could be used to establish persistent backdoors or escalate privileges to gain full system control. The attack could result in data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within network environments where infected systems existed. Security teams had to implement immediate mitigations and consider alternative browser solutions, as the vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild. The incident highlighted the importance of timely patch management and the risks associated with supporting older browser versions in enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focused on immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, which addressed the underlying memory management flaws in the affected Internet Explorer versions. Organizations should have implemented browser isolation techniques, such as running Internet Explorer in restricted security zones or using enhanced protection modes to limit the potential impact of exploitation. Network-level defenses including web application firewalls and content filtering systems could help detect and block malicious web content targeting this vulnerability. Security monitoring should have been enhanced to detect unusual privilege escalation attempts or memory corruption patterns in system logs. Browser hardening configurations and user education about avoiding suspicious websites were also recommended as complementary measures. The vulnerability underscored the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the risks associated with running unsupported browser versions. Organizations implementing defense-in-depth strategies should have considered alternative browser solutions or browser virtualization techniques to reduce exposure to such vulnerabilities. The incident also emphasized the need for regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify and remediate similar issues before they could be exploited in active attacks. This vulnerability's exploitation patterns aligned with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the use of browser-based exploits to gain elevated system access.